Oct 6, 20225 min read

An Autumn Like No Other

Our autumn so far feels more like summer than what fall is meant to be. My daily life is ruled by the rhythms of the seasons, and so this is an interesting time to be living through. With the heat and sun in place of cold and rain, I think that many of us find this season to be fantastic, unsettling, glorious and alarming.

Last spring, with its long months of cool and wet days, had me alternately feeling energetic, ready to get my hands in the garden and lethargic, craving the cozy comfort under the covers, writing and reading. This fall is likewise confusing. Some days I am reminded of living in Southern California, where at times I would genuinely forget what month we were in. The light would lower but the temperature stayed high. This is so much the same.

These last few weeks, waking in the dark mornings, my days start with me musing about which task I most feel like getting up to after the first hours spent cooking breakfast, making lunches, getting the kids going, and tidying up. Which indoor task, that is, because when it is cool and dark I am geared to get busy inside. Mostly, I fantasize and plan on creating everlasting wreaths upstairs in my flower-filled studio. Soap making has been on my mind, too. I imagine my morning break, sipping my warm coffee while reading the book I am lost in, then after, looking up to the ceiling to decide on which colours and textures I most want to work with today. What mood am I in? I envision myself standing at my table, the view of the forest of cedar trees through the window in front of me, putting together carefully chosen bundles of flowers and seed pods, winding these around twisted handmade wreath forms. I can clearly feel all the good emotions that will be coursing through me. But before that, my daughter and I will go out to wait for her school bus together. The last few minutes out the door are frequently stressful. Often I inform her that if she misses her bus, she is going to have to walk to school through the forest on her own. “Can’t you drive me?” “No. How about you get ready, and you don’t miss the bus?” When we do get out to the road, this is one of my favourite moments of the day. She chats and I enjoy listening. We look a little into the garden. Sometimes I wrap my arms around her to keep her warm in the chill, damp morning air. I don’t dare kiss her once the mini school bus turns onto our street. We say goodbye, she steps up onto the yellow bus and I find my way back up the driveway, slightly cold, and back into the house where I will finally get to realize my fantasies of my coffee mug and losing myself in my book (currently by Anthony Trollope).

Once I feel properly nourished by my daily ritual, my plan usually remains the same. But most days I do have to run outside to take care of some small gardening task before I get to my wreaths. And then when I do, I find the climate has completely changed during my coffee. The sun is burning off the fog, there is sun falling on parts of the garden. The birds are singing. I remember some larger job for the garden that I must get to right away. Plans are dashed. I do some weeding, transplant biennials from the greenhouse, out into the garden. Potatoes are dug, veggies harvested, flowers picked and tied up with strings. Seeds planted in trays of fresh soil, photos snapped of the beauties growing – dahlias, sky high cosmos, heirloom chrysanthemums, lush snapdragons. More flowers are gathered and placed in a vase indoors.

After getting lost in the garden, I look at the clock and count how many hours I have left until my little girl returns home from school on the same little bus. Were this a typical fall (will our climate, our weather, ever be typical again?), I would be doing the small garden tasks and probably be putting off the bigger tasks. This week I planted hundreds of tulip and narcissus bulbs for next spring’s bouquet subscriptions that I will again offer. In no other year have I so comfortably planted bulbs. No numb finger tips after hours spent digging in the soil. Perhaps a hood in past years, and definitely not a sun hat. My husband helped me out, and we talked freely while the sun shone down on us. Will the weather still be so warm when I plant my garlic out in two weeks time? My garden map this year has my garlic following the cucumbers. By mid October, my cucumbers shouldn’t be producing any more. But will they? I am still gathering cucumbers and eating as many cucumber sandwiches as I possibly can before there are no more. I wonder…will I have to plant my garlic late?

But yes, I look at the clock and calculate how many hours I have left to work. This particular work I love. How much can I do before the concentration of the day comes to a close? I still have time to make a wreath. Because you know, the light is low in the sky on this side of the equinox and in spite of the beautiful, balmy weather, I do still feel the low light in the sky, not making it over the trees for too many hours, urging me indoors.. Creating wreaths from the blooms of spring and summer is one of the greatest rewards of this season. I know that as the fall wears on, I will continue to be graced with the delight of the dried blooms. My happiness will probably come to depend on these flowers whose colours have been extended beyond their growing seasons. The textures and hues will feed my spirit and keep me bright. These sunny days won’t continue endlessly. But for now, I will enjoy them. I am experiencing the best of both worlds. It has been that kind of a year!

If you would like to check out what I have been creating, please visit me this Saturday, October 8th at Your Local Small Market. We intend to be outdoors. However, if you do not see the white tents, come into the Community Center, and we will be there from 10am to 2pm.

I am continuing to create made to order Everlasting Flower Wreaths. I also have a small selection ready-mades for you to browse. Some are on my site, and you can also make an appointment to come over and choose which wreath you would like to take home with you. Dried flower wreaths are meant for your inside walls. In my living room, we have traded out a framed artwork for my favourite wreath.

I am now taking orders for my Evergreen Wreaths to hang outdoors. These wreaths can withstand the elements and the winds off the ocean. Wreaths this year cost $70 (this includes the sales tax). Please send me a message through my website or send me an email at slowbotanicals@gmail.com to place your order. Please let me know whether you prefer to have your wreath before American Thanksgiving or in December. My evergreen wreaths are quite long lasting.